September 27, 2017

Press Release

September 27, 2017

Fish & Richardson attorneys Craig Countryman and Crystal Culhane have been named to SD Metro’s annual “40 Under 40” list, which recognizes San Diego’s rising business and civic leaders making a positive impact on their community and local industry.

One of the youngest attorneys to be named principal of Fish, Craig Countryman has notched multiple wins before the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Most notably, he served as lead counsel on Halo Electronics Inc. v. Pulse Electronics, Inc., which changed the standard for when punitive damages are awarded in patent cases. The unanimous court decision is considered the most significant patent decision of the 2015-2016 term, one that will impact most future IP infringement cases.

Dr. Crystal Culhane, 37, also in the firm’s San Diego office, is an associate in the patent group where she combines her legal experience and technical, science background to safeguard her client’s—mostly in the life-science and pharmaceutical industires—intellectual property and assets.

Both Culhane and Countryman were chemists before attending law school.

Culhane received her law degree, cum laude, from California Western School of Law in 2014 and a Ph.D. in chemistry in 2008 from Johns Hopkins University. At Johns Hopkins, Culhane’s research was focused on the design, synthesis, and evaluation of innovative optical and radioactive small molecule prostate cancer imaging agents. Culhane also holds a B.S. in chemistry from the University of St. Thomas, located in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has been published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Clinical Cancer Research Medical Journal and the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Prior to law school, Countryman was a chemist and developed an innovative synthesis of the anti-inflammatory drug Ketorolac. He received his law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law in 2006, and his B.S. in chemistry, with honors, from the California Institute of Technology in 2003.

Outside the courtroom, Countryman and Culhane dedicate time to serving their communities.

Countryman serves on the board of directors for the San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program, providing legal services to those who cannot afford them. He also serves as pro bono counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, most recently on a class-action lawsuit aimed to end excessive delays depriving detainees due process and prompt judicial review. Countryman is also a member of the Pro Bono Panel of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

Culhane, an avid runner who’s competed in more than 20 marathons, is a volunteer coach for Girls on the Run—a program for 8- to 13-year-old girls that seeks to inspire participants through running to be confident, happy and healthy. She also provides literacy services to San Diego’s incarcerated youth through the Juvenile Court Book Club and serves on the organization’s board of directors. Culhane is also involved with the professional women’s STEM organization, Athena San Diego.